Things I think I already knew but needed to hear

Last week, I had lunch with one of the managers where I work. I've been somewhat intrigued by this person since I started my current job. I'll admit though, that not all of my past opinions of this individual have been positive. I was subjected to a myriad of negative gossip upon the start of my current position, and much of it invloved this person.

However, over the past year or so, I've started watching this person (ok, sounds slightly stalker-ish, but not what I mean). I wanted to see if I could figure out how he "finagled" his way into his current position. Interestingly enough, he is not the manipulative sycophant many people describe him as (or wish he was). He really is just a charming, yet humble, individual who seems to have a great knack for comprehending and establishing working interpersonal relationships with great business-sense. I believe this skill (which I'm really hoping I can learn from him) really helped drive how he got to where he is today.

So, I asked him if we could do lunch. I wanted to pick his brain and get some advice. I learned four tidbits of wisdom that will help me get ahead in my career:

1. Surround yourself with good people. And, surround yourself with the right people. There is nothing wrong with a little bit of shoulder rubbing if it will help you get to where you need to be. You must market yourself and been seen if you want to get ahead. But don't just rub shoulders with anyone. Don't waste time with negative people, even if they are bigwigs. Their negativity could rub off on you, making you less likeable to those who can have an impact on your career.

2. Look for opportunities (projects) that will have a big impact. This can directly relate to #1. If people don't know you, they most likely won't think of you when they need something done. However, if you see a need, then jump on the opportunity to be involved. Don't wait for someone to ask you to do it.

3. Be good at what you do. This falls right in line with the first two. If you aren't good at what you do, your projects won't be successful. People will remember the lack of results, not that you "did your best". Spend the time to learn how to be the best at what you do now.

4. Get supervisory experience**. This will come with time. No one gets to be a manager right away. But, the sooner, the better (I'm guessing). This is one thing I currently lack in my career. I haven't had any opportunities to supervise. I have however, had plenty of project management experieince, in which, I did have to directly work with others and manage their work. Not quite like being a supervisor, but, still holding myself accountable for others' results.

So after all this, he suggested we meet again in a month. I had yet had any time to absorb anything he said. I wasn't even sure I had paid enough attention to what was being said since I felt nervous and out of my comfort zone the entire time. So much so I don't remember eating anything - but I'm pretty sure I downed three big glasses of water. But, apparently it sank in as I wrote this entire post on it. I agreed to a second lunch, but I think I sounded somewhat hesitant about it. Like I said, I hadn't really figured out if I got anythign out of it until later. So, I will reconfim this week, and go ahead and schedule it now so I can make it a priority.

I may just have a mentor here....something that has been absent from my professional career since leaving NCS. I'm looking forward to learning more, and I have a ton of stuff that I want to ask now. Next time, I won't be so nervous - hopefully, and, I might actually eat something.

**Between you and me, I hope #4 is in my very near future. My boss retires at the end of this month, and, I've applied for his job. I'm really going to have to turn my charm on over the next few weeks.

The Big Easy

Early yesterday evening we got back from New Orleans, LA. It was more fun than I remembered it to be, and just as beautiful as every. Vieux Carre is truley one of the places that everyone from the U.S. must visit at least once. It is filled with so much beauty, history, ghostly encounters, and just plain fun. Even the famous VooDoo Queen Marie Laveau has a beautiful tomb. Extremely creepy? Sure. I felt like I might be cursed just by taking photos of it, but, it was too beautiful to forget.

It saddened me that the city doesn't take better care of their historic cemeteries. Ok, I realize, they are flat broke and then some due to Katrina. But, the dilapidated tombs made me feel sorry for the people who rest inside of them. Did they realize that after hundreds of years of being laid to rest that the world would soon forget and not care about their lives? I guess however, the fact that these tombs still exist at all is a miracle. Another creepy thought would be if a hurricane DID take out these cemeteries and dead bodies and skeletal remains ended up floating around the French Quarter. The city would for sure be cursed, if it's not already.

On a lighter note, the food was just as fantastic as I remembered it. Cajun hot sausage, jambalaya for breakfast, red beans and rice w/ andoulle sausage...makes me hungry just to think about it. Too bad I ate way more than my share of food. At least the majority of it was fresh food versus fast food. Although, I ate more than my fair share of fast food as well. And, can I just say, I think my body is rejecting fast food in its old age. I cannot stomach it, and haven't been able to for about a year, no matter where it is or what I get. Its guaranteed that within an hour of consuming that devilish food I get a wrenching stomach ache that makes me wish I could be a temporary bullimic. Yet, I don't seem to have learned my lesson, as I just had McDonald's for lunch today. And, yes, my stomach felt like crap until about 4pm today. I really just need to lay off the juice!

So, I think I will have a new goal of avoiding fast food whenever possible. I don't eat it all that much. I'm no junkie. But I do have a hard time denying myself when we're on the move and my stomach feels like it's about to implode if I don't give it food. Get a salad you say? Well, I'll admit that while most fast food joints have come a long way in attempting to offer healthier alternatives, not all fast food salads are created equal. Generally, you end up with a brown, wilty, almost moldy bowl of iceburg lettuce with two tomatoes and sliced carrots. I'd rather take my chances with the tasty burger and fries thank you!

We'll see how it goes I guess.

What's up D.O.C.?

I didn't make it to the pool today. Right around 5pm, I got a raging headache. It came out of nowhere. I drank plenty of water today as well - I had about 2.5 liters. Dehydration is no excuse. So I used my headache as an excuse to go home and pour myself a glass of cabernet.

I've had a good week. In fact, I've had a great week. Not something you'd expect from someone who worked on their day off. My week is only going to get better. We're leaving for New Orleans tomorrow. I leave work at noon. I will get to see my mom, her hubs, and my brother, Drake. I have not seen Drake since our family reunion in 2007. He lives in Japan, and, I'm pretty sure he's never coming home.

I hated Drake as a kid. He annoyed the crap out of me. Always in my way, following me around, trying to get me in trouble. Typical boy. Not to mention, since he was "the youngest" he got away with EVERYTHING. When I got in trouble, I had to stand in the corner with my nose touching the wall. My mom would even come check. When he "stood" in the corner, he was allowed about a 4 foot radius in which he could fart around. And, if a cat came walking by, well, watch out. "Time out" turned into "Cat Torture Time."

I always had to baby sit him, and, while I liked being "responsible" I secretly wished they would take my brother with them. One time, he threw my mom's sewing scissors at me. He was 4, I was 11. I was livid. As livid as a 5th grader could be anyway. I remember wanting to hurl those scissors back SO hard!

We never really connected until we were "adults" - and the Vancouver trip was pretty much our first "adult" encounter with each other. He was 20 in the summer of 2007. Its weird to think he'll be 23 this year. I met Steve when I was 23. Seems like such a short time ago I was still living behind Woody's off Laurel in Fort Collins.

23.

When I was 23, I was certain I would be married and have 2.3 children by the time I was 26. I didn't get married until I was 26. I still haven't had any children. I'm 30.

Reminscing about my early 20s makes me miss my Colorado friends dearly. I'm reminded about Poudre Canyon and going sunbathing on a rock over the Poudre River. Remembering the sunrise hike up Greyrock we took to only spend over half our day getting lost hiking down (Ange & Molls, I still remember Psalm 24) . Praise God for those days.

I could use some of those days. I recently reconnected with one of my CO friends, she's living in the UK. Its amazing how much changes in such a short time. I can only imagine what my brother will be doing when he turns 30. Maybe by then, I'll have my 2.3 kids.

I have a lot to be thankful for and I often forget it. I am bad about taking the every day things for granted. I remember I did an exercise once where I was supposed to write down EVERYTHING I was thankful for. I got bored and stopped after 2 journal pages. I got the idea.

So, thanks be to God for my brother (Drake Oscar Crane, USN), and for my husband, and for my kitties, and the rest of my (our) family and friends. And for my job, and our house, and for the freedom to be able to have a house and a job. I'll stop there, lest I bore you with the myriad of "thanks" I need to give. :)

Never Been a Fan of Lobster

I feel the direction of this blog might take a turn. I know I am supposed to be using it as a psuedo-workout log. But you know what, I can't make that kind of committment. I need the freedom to write about whatever I want - which, I pretty much do anyway.

So - quick workout update:
Monday: Biking (20min), Running (15min)
Tuesday: Legs/abs (lunch)
Wednesday: Swimming (45min)
Thursday: Upper body (lunch)
Friday: none
Saturday: Hauling beach gear back & forth in the sand in 99 degree weather.

our umbrella village

Yes, I said BEACH!!! Best beach day of the season (so far). I love going to the Cape (that's Florida-speak for "Cape San Blas" to all you non-locals). Slightly upset we didn't pick up some live shrimp. No bait fish in the entire ocean.....excluding the mini dead mullet I "caught" in my cast night. I was unable to catch my dinner. Sad, sad day.
I did see a giant sting ray which was pretty sweet. No, I did not catch that in the cast net thankfully!

boys on the MEGASTATION aka "U.S.S. Sofina"

Oh, and did I mention I got sunburned? It looks like I have a white bathing suit on when I'm naked. No joke. I am usually OCD about sunscreen, but, I think with the grossly hot temperatures compelling me to hang out in the water (and sweat off my sunscreen) highly contributed to my lobster-esque color. Oddly enough, my face and arms are sunburn free. Can't say the same about my legs, back, stomach or chest.

me in my new beach hat - $2.50 at Target!

Does this mean tomorrow I'll be tan? Wait - I'm Irish. I don't tan. Skin cancer here I come!

Ah well - the day was a success. I'm going to conclude the evening with a glass of Shiraz and Episode 10 of Harper's Island.

Tomorrow's Goals: Church, Mow Lawn, Clean House, Get Groceries

Next Weekend's Adventure: New Orleans!! I'll be seeing my brother for the first time since Vancouver (2007). Radical!

Where O' Where Have I Been?

Feel free to point out that I've neglected my blog over the last month or so. Since I generally use this as a tool to keep myself accountable for my workouts you can pretty much guess I haven't really been working out. I've been swimming a little, but not consistently. This is about to change.

I figure, what better way to get back into blogging than to review my New Year's Resolutions?

1. Finish my Master's - I FINISHED and have officially been awarded my degree!!
2. Improve my 5K time and finish under 30 minutes (and then some) DONE!
3. Travel outside of the US - really not sure if this will happen this year. One HUGE obstacle being that Steve gets next to nothing for vacation. There are still very tentative plans for a cruise the week of Labor Day, but, not sure we can swing it.
4. Get back to my "Pre-Florida" weight - I'm pretty stagnant in this currently. I mentioned my workouts have been sporadic at best. Really need to get on goal #9 to help out with this.
5. Prove to the world (or at least my friends) that 30 is the new 20 - So, I had an ok b-day. I turned 30 gracefully (I hope), and I know I'm probably healthier than the average 30 year old. But for some reason, I seem to LOOK older than I remember...no fair! But I guess I can cross this off. :)
6. Become more well-read - Still working on this - Currently reading Jack Kerouac's On The Road. Been reading it for several weeks and should be finished by now - been distracted by The Sims 3 ;)
7. Spend more time in my music - been slacking here as well. However, sounds like quintet will start back up next Wednesday. Better dust off the old violin.
8. Get ahead in my career - since graduating, I've updated my resume and managed to toss it around at a few places. I'm also working on utilizing LinkedIn a little more. Even though I've read that the average user is in their 40s, I still think it has a lot of good information and resources. Leveraging social media is something I've been working on lately.
9. Participate in a triathlon - I've been swimming, I've been running, and I've been biking. But, I've been pretty chicken about actually comitting to this whole triathlon thing. There is one in August. I need to bite the bullet and actually register. That will get my butt moving!

First Lunch Workout

Cardio: 45min Swim - 500cals

Weights: Upper Body - Endurance (3x20 reps)

 

Food: Breakfast - Total Cinnamon Crunch (190) w/ 1/4 cup skim (23) - 213

         Lunch - Bumblebee Sundried Tomato & Basil Tuna (110) w/ 5 Whole Wheat Ritz Crackers (70) - 180

         Snack - Fiber One Vanilla Yogurt - 80

         Snack - Fiber One Strawberry w/ Almonds granola bar - 140

Total Food: 613 no dinner plans yet - still debating

 

 

I made it to the gym over lunch today.  It was a VERY speedy workout - but, it was a good endurance strength workout.  I did my exercises as if they were compound sets.  Basically, I did 1 set 20 reps of chest press, then straight into 20 reps of curls - then back to chest, until I finished 3 sets of each.  Then, I took a small break - then went into bent over rows & lat raises.  I did this because it REALLY saves a ton of time vs. resting between each set and between each exercise.  It also gives you a slight cardio-like boost which is good.  I probably should have mixed some abs in there, and I think I will next time.

 

And, my goal is to still hit the pool after work today.  I haven't been at 5:30 before, and I know there is a water aerobics class - so hopefully they don't close too many lanes for it.  I guess I'll find out. If it sucks, I'll have to find another way to get some swimming in.  Maybe take a longer lunch once or twice a week.  We'll see.

 

As for dinner - I'm going to decide what to make once I get home.  I'm not sure what time I will end up getting home.  I'm planning on 6:30ish I guess.  So, depending on my energy level, we'll either do meatloaf or goulash.  Exciting I know.

 

Anyway, I need to try to get motivated to work some more.  I'm stuck trying to build a tracking database.  Fun!  Only 5 hours left!

 

Call me Master!

All I can say, is that it will be great to get into a regular routine again.  Granted, while in school, I was in a routine, and while it was the same from week to week, it was far from regular.  I like being able to go into work and leave at the same time everyday.  I like not having to juggle wether or not to go to the gym or the grocery store because I had to work later into the evening because I had to go to class.  I like not having to come home and work on homework instead of doing something more fun, like tend to my garden, do home improvements, or just be lazy and play video games or watch TV.  Its going to be nice.

 

I started my 4-day work week this week.  I have Mondays off.  Although, for every Monday between now and July I will need to work at least 5 hours.  We have two vacations coming up.  One at the end of May into early June, and one at the end of June.  I will need 70 hours of leave for these two vacations combined.  I have 25 right now, and will only earn another 16-20hrs between now and then (not all at once either).  But, I can handle 45 hour weeks.  I technically did more than that while in school.  Just, not all of it was work-related.  And, knowing I can do those 5 hours during any time on Mondays is also nice.  So, if I'm feeling motivated, I'll go in at 7am.  If not, I'll go in at 10.  I like having that option.

 

As far as the triathlon goes, the July 4th Freedom Springs Tri is going to be a bust.  July 5th is Steve's birthday.  He wants to make a trip to Orlando to go to Universal Studios for the weekend, since we get the 3rd off, and I get Monday the 6th off.  We have family down there as well who are our age to hang out with (cousins).  So, I need to start looking for other tri's in the area (decently driveable) to train for.  This is probably better anyway since, I really didn't have any time to trian the last few weeks with finals, graduation, and family coming into town.  I'm hoping to get on the boat this week or next.  I've been swimming lately, which is nice.  Especially in the summer in Florida.  And, while its great, and I love being able to do it - I can't help but still feel some of the negative feelings I used to get in college & HS. 

 

Butterfly day????  UGH!!!!  Distance Day???  We'll never finish 7500yds before its time to leave for school!!! 

 

Its nice to know, that if I miss an interval, I won't be required to start a set over.  Or have lounge chairs thrown in the pool at me for farting around.  And, if I don't want to do butterfly or breaststroke, well, by golly I don't have to!  And I won't feel bad about it either!!!

 

Surprisingly, I'm not as slow as I thought I would be either.  I did some 50 free's on the :45 and made them ok.  Did some 100s on the 1:45 and made them pretty easily.  My only problem is, getting enough yardage in.  I've been swimming about 45min and getting about 2500yds in.  Its really weird to think, that, 45min is a lot of cardio.  And, when I run or bike, I don't do much more than 45-60min at a time.  But, 2500yds in the water seems so short!  Probably because i'm used to doing anywhere from 3500-7500yds in any given practice.  I mean, some of our practices would be over 2 hours long depending.  That's a LONG time to be working out.  I think an hour is good.  I'd like to average 3500+ yards in an hour. 

 

My first day back in the pool, I did 2000 yards.  I told Steve my warm up was 800 yards.  It was the standard warm up I did while in OK: 200 Swim, 200 Kick, 200 Pull, 200 IM. He said "It takes you 800 yards to warm up?  When you're only swimming for 45min?"  I thought about it.  Yes, it seemed odd.  But, my body needed it. 

 

I need to do more sprints, and more distance.  I haven't done any sets that require anything over 200.  Which, I did 200s (free) on the 3 minutes.  I made all 4 of them.  Funny to think I used to swim a 200 backstroke in 2:12. 

 

It feels weird saying the swimming portion of the triathlon will be the easiest.  But, really - 400 yards, when I do 800 yards for a 'warmup' on any given day, should be a piece of cake.